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Oops, yes yes these were the words conveyed from the GerakanFederalTerritories chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong, who has been suspended at this moment, to his party leaders for taking up a post with the Selangor government.

Well I really salute your determination and courage to speak up against the Gerakan party leaders. And a warm welcome to Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong from the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat Government, the government for the people, chosen by the people of Selangor !!

Go jump into the KlangRiver. That was the message from GerakanFederalTerritories chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong to his party leaders after he learned that he had been suspended for taking up a post with the Selangor government. “If they don’t like me helping the people, they can go jump into the KlangRiver,” Dr Tan said. Besides being suspended, Dr Tan has been issued another show-cause letter to explain within seven days why further action, including expulsion, should not be taken against him. Earlier in the day, Dr Tan said he might contest a higher post in the party when he was asked whether he had replied to the first show-cause letter. (He replied on Wednesday.)

“I am an obedient party member, but now I have to seriously consider my options in the party,” he said later in the afternoon. “But I want to know, as a newly-elected branch chairman after winning unopposed, is this one of the ways to block me from contesting a national post,” the defiant and combative Dr Tan asked.

Insisting that he has done nothing wrong, he said he will leave it to the public to be the judge on what is more important — helping a state government and its people, or petty manoeuvring within the party.

Dr Tan recently accepted the Selangor government’s offer to head a task force on land matters, making him the second Gerakan leader to serve under a Pakatan Rakyat-led government.

Former Gerakan deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon earlier accepted the directorship of the Penang Development Corporation and investPenang in DAP-led Penang. Lee has since resigned from Gerakan. Dr Tan also revealed that in his reply to the first show-cause letter, he explained why he accepted the Selangor government post.

“It (Selangor government) is a legal organisation, not a kongsi gelap (secret society). Judging from my (party) bosses’ reaction, are they bowing to Umno again?” he asked.

However, Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye said Dr Tan should know the party’s position not to condone any party leader or member accepting posts in agencies or committees in any Pakatan Rakyat state governments.

Chia said Dr Tan had accepted the Selangor government offer without consulting or informing the party’s central leadership or even his colleagues in the FederalTerritory.

In a statement, he said the CWC found Dr Tan’s two reasons for accepting the appointment as unacceptable.

Dr Tan had stated that he accepted the Selangor government offer due to his close friendship with the menteri besar and his desire to serve the people through a position of power.

Chia said after the March 8 general election results, Gerakan leaders decided that the party would assume a role as a constructive opposition to the five Pakatan Rakyat state governments while promoting reform within Barisan Nasional and Gerakan itself.

“Therefore, a clear distinction has to be made in terms of government positions. Moreover, most party leaders and members were not given any position of power even when BN ruled the state but we still managed to serve the people,” he said.

Chia said the CWC also took note of Dr Tan’s defiance in openly criticising the leadership before and after accepting the appointment.

He quoted Dr Tan as telling the press that Gerakan did not value him, besides other television interviews which were intended to damage the party’s image.

“We decided to suspend him and ask him to explain why he should not be sacked from the party because of his negative attitude and approach,” he added.